US Vice President JD Vance has hit back strongly at accusations that he “threw his wife’s religion under the bus,” calling such remarks “disgusting” and reaffirming that his wife, Usha Vance, has no plans to change her faith.
The controversy erupted after Vance, speaking at a Turning Point USA event, said he wished his Indian-origin wife would one day embrace Christianity since their children are being raised Christian and she often attends church with them. The comments drew criticism from sections of the Indian-American community, who accused him of being dismissive of Hinduism.
One widely circulated social media post said, “It’s weird to throw your wife’s religion under the bus, in public, for a moment’s acceptance by groypers.”
Responding to the backlash, Vance said, “What a disgusting comment, and it’s hardly been the only one along these lines. First off, the question was from a person seemingly to my left, about my interfaith marriage. I’m a public figure, and people are curious, and I wasn’t going to avoid the question.”
He added that his remarks were consistent with his faith and his respect for his wife. “My Christian faith tells me the Gospel is true and is good for human beings. My wife, as I said at the TPUSA, is the most amazing blessing I have in my life. She herself encouraged me to re-engage with my faith many years ago. She is not a Christian and has no plans to convert, but like many people in an interfaith marriage, or any interfaith relationship, I hope she may one day see things as I do,” he said.
Vance also stressed that his relationship with his wife remains one of deep love and mutual respect. “I will continue to love and support her and talk to her about faith and life because she’s my wife,” he said, adding that the criticism reflected “anti-Christian bigotry.”
“Yes, Christians have beliefs. And yes, those beliefs have many consequences, one of which is that we want to share them with other people. That is a completely normal thing, and anyone who’s telling you otherwise has an agenda,” Vance added.
The controversy began when Vance was asked by an Indian-origin woman about his interfaith marriage. His response was seen by some as implying that he wanted his wife to convert.
“Do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved by the church? Yeah, I honestly do wish that because I believe in the Christian gospel and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way,” Vance had said.
He added that he believes such differences are handled best within families and through faith. “One of the most important Christian principles is that you respect free will. Usha is closer to the priests who baptise me than maybe I am. They talk about this stuff. My attitude is you figure this stuff out as a family and you trust in God to have a plan and you try to follow it as best as you can. And that’s what I try to do,” he said.
Former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal criticised Vance for not acknowledging his wife’s Hindu roots more openly, noting that he described her as “agnostic” rather than identifying her religious background. Sibal suggested Vance appeared hesitant to discuss her faith.
The episode has reignited debate over interfaith marriages and the political pressures faced by leaders navigating personal faith in the public eye.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
